The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-07
THE COUNTRY BOY.
His Advantage over the Town BOY in
the Practical Affairs OF Life.
atlanta Constitution.

| NC -llOdll) Lfe|o Nfttt -1NSc'''
has some we'll considered remarks
under the head Of ''City Boys versus
Country Boys Our contemporary
says:
The fact that the country has
furnished the greater proportion #
distinguished men who have adorned
every profession in the annals Of
history, has led men to inquire into
the causes that contribute to this re-
suit.
The city boy enjoys greater ad-
vantages Of a character which are de-
signed to equip men for the success
full discharge of the active duties of
a busy life. They are taught and en-
couraged to make acquisitions of
that knowledge which has relatively
the most value in the practical careers
Of life. But the effect seems to be
like the making Of the brick that pile
up to form their houses; they all
come out about one size. The arti-
fetal is apparent; the methods en-
ployed seem to raise all to one plane
of mediocrity, above which but few
have the qualities and ability for ris-
ing. There is a superficial acquaint.
ance with many subjects, degree of
polish common to all which enables
them, like polished surfaces, to reflect
the light around them, but an absence
Of inward warmth Of intellectual
vigor.
The country boys are strikinglY
of different patterns, and present the
natural phases Of individuality Of
character. The conditions Of their
lives seem more favorable for the
development Of mental strength, as
the pure air is most conducive to
bodily health.
The young men Of q city, instead
Of devoting their leisure to the cult
vations Of Il minds, dissipate their
natural ment.-. vigor in planning and
enjoying society pleasures. The
youth of the country find in their
very occupation a field of profitable
study in observing the operation Of
the laws of nature, the very purest
science. Their leisure is proftably
employed in meditation, and in the
study of the open book of nature,
exhaustless in its knowledge and its
pleasing variety. To him the visible
forms Of nature are leaves on which
lessons Of wisdom and instruction
are written, for the understanding Of
which he possesses Rosetta stone;
and all natural sounds are voices for
which he has en- interpretation
All this is suggestive. 1t is
especially worthy the attention of
bows who, because their. lot is cGst in
the country and OF farms. imagine
that they are Sue victims CT misfor-
tune. The Constitution has received
hundreds al letters from boys who
live in the country asking for advice
and information as to their future.
Occasionally, in responding to these
letters, we have pursued the line of
thought suggested by the remarks Of
the Neacs and Adcertiser.
The disadvantage tEat 8 boy i'm
agiucs he ands in country life are
nct at al serious. The country is a
school Of and within itself and to live
there is to secure an education
superior in some respects 10 any +has
can be.conferred b. She schools. Per
haps :ha most prevalent error in this
world is the notion that an education
can only be secured in schools, !
is q notion held by cid and by young,
hv parents end by children, but it is
g false and pernicious notion, and it
has prevented many bright young
fellow from making an effort that
would have brought him success.
1t is pity that every boy cannot
know what be r-ill inevitably find oas
Iater-namely; tha: she smallest and
m2st unimportant part Of his educa-
ton is that which he receives IN the
schools. The practical knowledge,
the information and the experience
he must acqaise arc not to be found
in she text hooks, nor in the system
Of instruction carried on under the
auspices of Prof. Dryasdust and his
able assistants. The boys education
and the only education he will get
must be secured though his own
efforts, and through his contact Will
nature and with life.
assuming that Atlanta is in some
scrt q typical city, we have no hest
tation in saying that, almost without
exception, the most successful men
here in every business are those who
we're born, bred aad educated in the